Critical Thinking and Decision Making Quiz

Essential Questions: Why do people create, structure, and change governments? How do societies balance individual and community rights? How does social change influence government?
Chapter 5: The Constitution
Lesson 1: The Country's First Governments
Lesson 2: Creating a New Constitution
Lesson 3: The Structure of the Constitution
Lesson 4: Principles of the Constitution

Before the 1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, James Madison had already held significant political roles in Virginia.
He helped create Virginia's state constitution, served in the Virginia House of Delegates, and the Continental Congress.
Madison realized the need for a stronger central government and developed a plan incorporating national, state, and individual interests.
His ideas became a blueprint for the US Constitution.
James Madison became known as the "Father of the Constitution" for his major contributions.

The Constitution, written over 200 years ago, is still vital in present-day legal proceedings.
Supreme Court justices and judges rely on the Constitution for decisions regarding issues like cell phone communication rights, laser technology, student rights, internet privacy, and violent content in media.
The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia provides interactive exhibits to understand the creation and function of the Constitution.
Bronze statues of prominent delegates such as Benjamin Franklin, George Washington, and James Madison are displayed at the center.

In 1975, people lined up for hours to view original copies of the Constitution, Declaration of Independence, and other historical documents on the Freedom Train.
The exhibition toured 48 US states, showcasing America's founding documents to millions.

Before the Declaration of Independence, colonists formulated plans for independent governments.
The Second Continental Congress encouraged colonies to create governments that promoted the happiness and safety of voters.
New Hampshire was the first colony to establish itself as a state and create a constitution in January 1776.
Other former colonies followed suit, developing their own constitutions within a few years.
State constitutions shared similarities in their structure, with each having a legislature to create laws.

The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government for the US states. This was because the colonist did not want a strong central government like the one they had previously experienced under British Rule.
The Articles were created in 1777 by the Second Continental Congress.
The Articles of Confederation created issues for the US because it lacked the power to tax or enforce laws because it lacked a strong central government. Each state had its own power and did not give up any of their sovereignty.
Each state was free to govern itself, which made some tasks difficult for the states to conquer together.
A single, strong army under central control was needed for the war effort against the British.
The Second Continental Congress created a confederation of states to establish a common purpose.
The Articles created a "league of friendship" among the states.
The power to tax and regulate trade was not given to the Confederation Congress.
A major weakness was the nine-state vote requirement for any law passed; not all 13 states agreed to the plan.
The inability of the central government to tax severely hindered its ability to pay its debts and fund programs.
The lack of a strong executive branch, and a well-organized system of courts, further weakened the central government.
The need for a stronger central government became evident.

In 1787, there was a Constitutional Convention of state delegates that met in Philadelphia, seeking change from the Articles of Confederation.
Thirteen states sent delegates, except Rhode Island, which opposed a stronger central government.
Key figures included George Washington, who was chosen to lead the convention; James Madison, who wrote the Virginia Plan; and William Paterson, who proposed the New Jersey Plan.
These delegates were educated and experienced in government.
The convention met in secret, without public access, to allow open debate without concerns over public opinion or criticism.
A Great Compromise combined elements of both the Virginia and New Jersey plans.
The Three-Fifths Compromise addressed representation for states with enslaved populations.
The delegates faced challenges from various viewpoints regarding the Constitution regarding the question of representation and slavery.
This compromise counted enslaved people as three-fifths of other persons in determining representation in Congress; the same rule was also used for assessing taxes on the states.
The convention sought plans for regulating international trade and trade among various states. Northern states wanted a significant role in foreign trade and trade among the different states. Southern states were wary of congressional taxes on exported goods.
The delegates addressed issues concerning the new national government structure and established principles for this new nation.

The Constitution is the supreme law of the US.
It provides a plan for government.
It includes a Preamble, seven articles, and 27 amendments.
The Preamble (introduction) outlines the goals and purposes of the US government; the seven articles (main parts) describe the structure of the government; the 27 amendments (additions/changes) adjust the government's operations over time.

Popular Sovereignty: Power resides with the people. They express their will through elected representatives.
Limited Government: The government can only do what the people empower it to do. All government power comes from the consent of the governed.
Rule of Law: Everyone, including government officials, is accountable to the law.
Separation of Powers: Dividing governmental powers among three co-equal but separate branches (legislative, executive, and judicial).
Checks and Balances: Each branch has power to limit the powers of other branches to balance authority.
Federalism: Power is shared between state and federal governments; federal power is supreme when there is a conflict.